Lee Krasner 20th Century Painter

Milkweed, 1955

•Krasner’s surroundings on Long Island inspired this collage 

   At a young age Lee Krasner already had a passion for the art world, this of course was uncommon especially for woman who was born to immigrant parents and was a female. She spent her early years in New York educating herself. While attending the National Academy of Design from 1926 to 1928 she was scrutinized for her technique and her work slowly emerged from realistic self-portraiture to surrealist experimentation.  Like many artists of her time she was able gain employment and keep financial stability with the Works Progress Administration/ Federal Art Project. This program was part of the New Deal projects which assisted and supported women artists. Krasner married Jackson Pollock she was said to be the main factor in helping distribute his talents. Many times her career was questioned because of her role as a supportive wife.
      She used abstract expressionism in most of her works. Krasner was a major figure in the world of abstraction especially as a 20th century woman. Her work confronted the stereotype of "women are not able to paint". This notion was very popular during the 20th century. The abstract expressionism movement was deemed to be a masculine form of art work but she would kill this stereotype. Krasner did not want to allow her emotions in the beginning of her art work cloud the judgement of art she was creating. She chose to paint on canvas. Abstract Expressionism broke away from the accept conventions of technique and the subject matter in the paintings. The work demonstrated was a reflection of the inner psyches of the artists.

Noon, 1947
The painting is heavily texture with much energy.

     Her legacy was everlasting for generations especially among women artist. Krasner made a significant legacy for herself among women. She was inspired by Henri Matisse, his work was colorful and large. Krasner was harsh on herself and cut up older canvases that she felt did not live up to her standards.

                          Night Creatures, 1965

Krasner's swirling black-and-white paint strokes create menacing eyes and heads

     Anne Wagner stated " Krasner's art during this period was marked by its refusal to produce a self in painting" (Chadwick 320). This resistance of not allowing herself in the art was out of fear that it would be considered a betrayal to her fellow females. However, she was still criticized for example by Havelock Ellis who stated " this painting is so good you'd never know it was done by a woman". This kind of language and scrutiny discouraged many yet it did not stop her from painting.
     Towards the end of her life she lost her husband Pollock. Her work would become darker. Krasner's grief would be unleashed in her work. Earth Green and the Night Journey series would be painted during this time. She expressed herself through painting during this time in her life. She will be remembered as one of the leaders of abstract expressionism.





Works Cited

Chadwick, Whitney. Women, Art, and Society. 5th ed. New York, NY: Thames and Hudson,1990. Print.

"Lee Krasner Biography, Art, and Analysis of Works." The Art Story. 
      http://www.theartstory.org/artist-krasner-lee.htm. Web. 07 Apr. 2015.

"Pollock." Pollock. http://sb.cc.stonybrook.edu/pkhouse/story/krasner4.shtml Web. 07 Apr. 2015.